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13 million people in Britain have seen their local bank branch close down in past 10 years, ONS figures show

Almost 6,000 local branches have shut since 2010, a fall of a third - PA
Almost 6,000 local branches have shut since 2010, a fall of a third - PA

Thirteen million people in Britain have seen their local bank branch shut down in the last ten years, ONS figures show.

Over 6,000 branches have shut since 2010, which is a fall of a third.

Experts have said that banks and buildings societies have been shutting as more people use online banking, and fewer visit branches.

As more people use contactless cards, cash machines have disappeared from local high streets.

Cash points across the country are also closing; Figures from Link show that between January and August of this year 1,400 free to use cash machines closed across Great Britain.

"There are many people still reliant on traditional banking services who are at risk being financially excluded by this alarming rate of branch closures" Gareth Shaw, from consumer group Which?, told the BBC.

"While banks should ensure there are alternative banking facilities in the area, we're told by consumers that these options simply do not offer the full range of services or convenience that a dedicated branch does."

A UK Finance spokesman said: "Bank branches play an important role in local communities which is why decisions to close them are only ever taken after all other options, like reducing opening hours and staff numbers, have been exhausted."

Fewer people are visiting banks; visits have fallen by a quarter since 2012 as people do more banking online from home and on their phones, the spokesman added.

UK Finance has promised investment in "ATMs and mobile bank branches to reach out to more communities."

Analysis by the BBC of Link data found that there are 63 parliamentary constituencies with fewer than five ATMs per 10,000 people.